Combined musical instrument and music-score device



M. M. COLE Nov. 7, 1939.

COMBINED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AND MUSIC-SCORE DEVICE Filed May 20, 19159` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE COMBINED MSICAL INSTRUMENT AND MUSIC-SCORE DEVICE Morris M. Cole, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 20, 1939, Serial No. 274,817

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a combined musical in- 1 strument and music-score device and more particularly to such devices provided as toys.

My objects are to provide an improved form of such device; to provide a form of device in which the music-score and the musical instrument, such as for example a Xylophone, may be positioned in such relation to each other and to the one playing the instrument, as to facilitate the playing of the instrument; to provide the device of such construction that it may be folded into compact condition when desired, as for example for shipping and when not in use, and when to be used quickly and easily extended into the desired condition; and other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear perspective View of the device showing it in condition for use.

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the device in the condition shown in Fig. l.

Figure 3 is an edge View of the device showing it as manipulated into condition for shipping or storing with certain of the parts abnormally spread apart.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken at the line 4 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; and

Figure 5, a similar view taken at the line 5 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow,

According to the preferred illustrated embodiment of my invention the device comprises al back plate-like member 6; a front plate-like cover section 1, the parts 6 and 1 being hingedly connected along adjacent edges; a stack of music-score sheets 8 arranged between the members 6 and 1 and hinged at their upper edges thereto; bracing means 9 carried on the inner side of the cover section 1 for holding the members 6 and 1 in operative, upwardly extending,

position when the deviceis manipulated to condition it for use as shown in Figs. l and 2; a ap section lll hinged to the lower edge of the member 6;' and a musical instrument Il, such as for example a Xylophone as shown, mounted on the upper side of the flap I0.

In conditioning the device for use it is manipulated from the closed condition shown in Fig. 3

into the condition shown in Figs. l and 2, in

which manipulation the cover section 1 is turned back to extend behind the member 6 and the bracing means 9 are unfolded to form a support to engage the table, or other article on which the device is to rest when in use, for holding the members 6 and 1 in upwardly extending, prefer- (Cl. Sdi- 403) ably rearwardly inclined, position as shown, in

which position of the'device the nap I0 carrying stantially horizontal position. 5

The music-score sheets 8, which may be selectively exposed to view at the front side of the member 6, as desired, by reason of the hinged connection of these sheets with the members 6 and 1, carry designations, such as the numerals 10 shown, corresponding with the designations on the sounding bars i2 of the musical instrument it, these designations serving .as a means for indicating to the player which of the bars l2 are to be struck in succession to play the particular 15 music scores displayed by the sheets.

The members 6 and 1 and the flap I0 may be made of any` suitable material, as for example stift' cardboard, and the hinged connection of the ap i with the member 8 provided in any suit- 2o able way as for example by securing strips i3 of fabric to the adjacent edges of these parts at the joint therebetween (Fig. 5).

The hinging together of the members 6 and 1 and the sheets 8 may be eiected in any desirable 25 way as for example by means of the rings shown at M which extend through registering openings in the members 6 and 1 and the sheets 8.

The bracing means 9 may be of any desirable construction, those shown comprising a leg por- 30 tion i5 as for example of stiff cardboard, hingedly connected at its upper edge to the cover section 1 adjacent the hinging means I4, as by means of a strip 15 of any suitable material, such as, for example, tough paper, secured to the leg 35 and to the inner side of the cover section 1, and a tie or check member i1 of any suitable material and shown as in the form of strip material adapted to be folded inwardly along a folding line i8, connected at one end with the lower end of 40 the leg 5 and at its other end held in fixed Telation to the cover section 1.

In the particular construction shown the strip 1S and the tie member l1 are formed as a continuous one-piece strip structure which extends 45 continuously along the relatively stiff leg l5 and the inner side of the cover section 1.

The device is shown in Fig. 3 as folded for shipping or storing in which condition the cover section extends over the stack of music score 50 sheets 8, (the cover 1 having been swung to this position at its hinged connection with the member 6 and sheets 8) and the bracing means 9, in folded flat compact form, extend between the cover section 1 and the stack of .sheets 8. In this 55 condition of the device it assumes the form, and simulates somewhat the appearance, of a book with the musical-instrument-supporting ilap I0 extending in the plane of the member 6 in which condition th device is rendered very compact and may be enclosed in a thin container.

As will be understood, the relative positioning of the musical instrument and the music-score sheets and the relation of these parts to a player located in front of the device, when the device is set up for use, is such as to greatly facilitate the playing of the musical instrument from the music score sheets.

While I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not Wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim -as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A device oi' the class described comprising, in combination: a book formed of covers and a plurality of leaves carrying musical scores, said leaves and covers hingedly bound together at one edge oi' the book; a ilap hinged to the free edge of the back cover, thereby permitting said ilap to lie flat in operative position; a, musical instrument carried by said flap; a foldable support Whose length is less than the length of the front cover hinged near the top of the inside of the front cover, a foldable check member connecting the free end of said support with the bottom of said front cover thereby permitting the face of the front cover to contact the face of the rear cover at an angle to the perpendicular, and permitting said leaves to be moved about their hinged edges to the rear of said foldable support whereby to expose the musical score of any leaf in a position above, beyond and at an angle to said musical instrument.

MORRIS M. COLE. 

